Not having read the manga, I came to the conclusion that Hetalia could’ve been one of two things. It could’ve been sheer fangirl pandering or it could be a brilliant piece of satirical historical wit.
My enthusiasm for Hetalia is gone. In fact, it died at the end of the first season. There was some false enthusiasm because of the return of Hetalia after its return between seasons but I’m now finding it impossible to summon energy for Hetalia posts anymore. And if I’m not enjoying writing the posts then I’m sure my readers aren’t enjoying them as much either.
With that, I’ve decided it’s time to finally call a halt to my Hetalia episodics. I don’t want to be putting up posts I’m not proud of. 18 months of Hetalia and it’s finally time to call a close on these posts. It’s been fun, oh boy has it been fun at times. The most random pieces of historical info I’ve learned over the course of this show. The wild and varied comments you lot left. But there’s no sign of Hetalia ending anytime soon and chances are it’s going to continue for several years left. Deen would be stupid to stop animating so cheap yet rakes them in so much money. If there was a clear end in sight I’d probably be OK but as it is I don’t have the enthusiasm to continue blogging this series indefinitely.
I hope that you guys continue reading my other posts, although I realise many of you only watch Hetalia out of any currently airing anime. If so, I at least hope you enjoyed reading my posts until now as we joined together to create world peace and generally make merry.
Now if you don’t mind me, I’m going to get my cart and leave–
71 Comments
I always kind of wondered why you were blogging this show. Now I think I know, but only just in time for the honeymoon to end.
Well, I salute you! You did a very good job, treading a ground rarely entered by the male kind. Now enjoy the sleep of the just.
Brief history: I started blogging the show in the Winter 09 season. I hadn’t picked up anything that season because I was meant to be continuing blogging Michiko to Hatchin from the previous season. However I got immensly bored of that series and the only show that aired after I made the choice to drop MtH was Hetalia. Thankfully Hetalia was entertaining and, at only 5 minutes long, it wouldn’t take away too much time from my upcoming super important exams.
Remember that at this time there was only 26 episodes planned. However by that stage I was thoroughly enjoying watching and blogging the show (apart from Chibitalia) and I had somehow ammased a readership who liked these posts.
So yah, that’s why I was blogging the show~
Aw man! I read your reviews every week since around… episode 4 of Hetalia? Sad that you’re leaving it, but it’s not as if it’s the only series I read about on your site. You write really funny and awesome reviews of other series. I’m a little bit frustrated with the series too, to be honest. It hasn’t put out a really funny episode for a while, now it’s just… “ooh, let’s animate some boring strips and some awesome strips, but we’ll drag out the boring strips in the episode and kind of make an indefinite ‘next time’ and then show a few more boring strips”. I’m not dropping it, since this is my favourite series, but I salute you for staying so long with it whereas other anime bloggers dropped it like a hot potato once it got a third season.
*claps*
Someone reading since episode 4? I’m amazed people have been around for that long!
Glad you enjoyed the posts and my other posts as well
Without Hetalia to talk about, this blog is doomed to die a two year death.
implying I would drop Hetalia without other awesome projects planned
Wow, 18 months is a long time! Kind of impressed you kept up with episodics on one series for that long.
I wonder how Omni from RC blogged Bleach for so long. Surely you’d run out of things to say after a while? At least I had the whole of history to fall back on
Aw crud! The next two episodes are about Sweden, and I was really looking forward to your thoughts on that epic gay mumbler (any chance of one last two-episode hurrah…? ^_^).
At any rate I really enjoyed your reviews, it was great to get the straight male perspective, and thank you for sticking with it. I will miss the chibitalia rage, and the lulz.
Nah, if I kept going ‘after the next episode’ I’d get into a vicious cycle and never stop. I might make a post on the movie if it’s any good and maybe one once the series ends (if it ever ends…)
Glad you enjoyed the posts. And the chibitalia rage
I think luffyluffy’s gonna be sad… but so am I. Very sad. I’m still gonna read your blogposts, because this is my favourite anime-blog, mostly because of you. You are not an oldfag, nor do you bash female anime or sound arrogant, or have any weird fetishes. You are just a normal man, watching anime, and telling us, if their are good or bad. And add your personal humour in these posts. Yet, I came to this blog because of your wonderful hetalia posts, and I’m very sad that I must now read every hetalia review on Hyper Parfaits anime blog, which is not bad, but every time I go there, the writer is all writing about how funny and wonderful the hetalia characters are. I know that hetalia is a great show, that gave me both historical references and ho-yay characters, that are not emo, nor complety ridiculous (like in most yaoi shows.) Still I want to have an serious review ABOUT THE EPISODE.
Are still gonna watch the hetalia episodes? With the dub coming up and all, I still… kinda believed, that you gonna do the reviews till the (not so very soon) end of hetalia. But it seems it’s not like that. But don’t worry, I don’t think your blogs gonna die without hetalia, since you are an amazing blogger.
But for the day I’m gonna toast with my boots to hetalia. Goodbye Hetalia posts by Miss Despair.
lol ikr! One thing i like of his Hetalia posts is that it’s not really about fangirling or squee-ing. Not that those are bad, but it’s nice to see a different kind of review of Hetalia. From a man, too. lol
*toasts boots with you too*
Me Normal? I feel like I’ve failed somewhere if my readers think I’m normal…
Glad you like the blog so much. I probably don’t say this often enough, but thanks you guys for making me feel like my nonsense is worth reading~!
I quite like Hyper Parfait, although I thought she’d stopped writing Hetalia episodics…haven’t been there in a while…but it was useful for getting random pieces of Hetalia news without stepping into the Hetalia LJ hivemind community. Obviously her post style is totally different to mine but she has an enthusiasm for the series I’d never be able to muster.
I’ll still be watching Hetalia although I’ll probably put it on hold for a few months. Maybe I’ll watch it in batches when there’s a lull and I have nothing otherwise to watch. Kinda like what I do with Gintama, I’ve still got 101 episodes of that left to watch.
Damn, I wish I’d thought of the boot line myself. Back when this show had a good ending song
oh well, here’s a toast with my smelly old boot!
Scamp, I am saddened by this recent development. Please repeal and revise.
Hell, I’m even okay with gunning for a batch review. You know how Arakawa was structured, with little ‘episodes’ in 30 minutes? Why don’t you do that. Watch how ever many episodes of Hetalia needed for half an hour, then blog’em like you did Arakawa. Shouldn’t be hard for a blogging stud-muffin like yourself.
I dropped it about 2/3 of the way through the first season. It had its moments but screwed around too much for my liking.
One idea I had was to create a list of the best hetalia episodes for those who were wary of the series to watch and be amazed. Never got around to it though
That would have been a nice post. Just saying.. xD
oh no! sadness ;(
but i can’t blame you. hetalia has been pretty meh and forgettable as of late. perhaps you can post once in a great while should there be some awesome comeback episode? unless you’re dropping the viewing of the series entirely…
you’ve got a great perspective and great blog so i’ll still come around. your blog is the only one i read anyway (i can’t muster the effort to branch out, sadly. maybe when school starts). i’ll miss the posts though!
Where has all the good Hetalia gone? Maybe I’ll finally give the manga a proper shot this time…
Glad you enjoyed the posts! Best way to deal with more than one blog is to get a google reader account. If I didn’t have that I’d only read about 4–5 blogs myself
Could you at least blog the Su-San episodes? Seeing as they’re just like the Austria Succession episodes, you can watch the two latest ones and do a blog on the story.. I’d love to see that.
Meh.
and you were one of my first regular commenters too
wonder where I went wrong…
I was fun at first…
Well, this is kind of sad. But seeing that i’m still be here for your other posts, i guess it’s not that sad.
I have to admit that atm i’m not that excited in waiting for new episodes of Hetalia compared before, but i still watch it with much enthusiasm in groups (3 unwatched episodes in one go, another 2 or three episodes in my next update, etc). Just not like before where i watch it the day the fansubbers post it. But i still enjoy Hetalia, i still do. And it was really fun seeing your thoughts about the episodes. But i guess things really have to end and all.
Well, if it’s not much to ask, will you check Funimation’s english dub of the show? What they did to the script is really fun and the VAs are not that bad, imo. I’m actually enjoying an eng dub of a series, surprisingly.
Well, i’m hoping you’ll still pick this series up again some time in the future. It’s been fun yo!
(*goes to check your Occult Academy ep 4 post.. lol*)
That’s more like what I’ll do with Hetalia myself. Blogging the show meant I had to watch the episodes one at a time. Maybe I’d be better off taking month breaks between batch watching sessions or something. Oh god, that’s going to be weird. Seeing a Hetalia episode and then NOT WRITING ABOUT IT!!! Seriously, you don’t know how much of a shock to the system that will be. Watching an episode without thinking ‘ah yes, that’s what I’ll write about’.
…fuck, maybe I shouldn’t drop this show…no Scamp, no doubts now!
Anywho, I have checked the dub where I can (bloody region restrictions) and what I’ve seen I think it’s VUNDERBAR! Good enough to be a deal sealer for a purchase
Indeed, i can imagine you thinking of a joke or something midway in watching an episode. xD
Well, you can always do a post about it just to clear your thoughts on a couple of episodes or something.
But yeah, i guess a vacation off Hetalia might bring back that old flame (oh lol). Although this does sound like farewell to the blogging part of it though.
Aside from the humor, i guess i’ll also miss the educational part of these posts (and including the insightful comments).
Oh yeah, i forgot to mention about the dub. Yeah, the dub’s awesome lol. i like the sound of Germany the most.
Aw, Scamp, but they’re only five minutes long apiece!
Still, I understand… you gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for all the funny Hetalia posts!
Thanks for the compliment!
Hope I provided you with enough laughs for whenever Hetalia failed to provide them
Can’t say I’m surprised, blogging one series for so long can sort of kill the enjoyment a bit, especially a series as hit and miss as Hetalia is.
Still you did a great job and it will be weird not having a Scamp Hetalia post to read after watching the latest episode. End of an era, but heres to new and exciting things in the future!
You think it will be weird with no Scamp Hetalia post to read? No post for me to write would be far weirder.
But yah, I have plenty of stuff planned for the future. No going stale for me!
I dare you to buy the season 1 DVD and blog the dub as a totally different series. And Lemme tell you, it IS a totally different series.
[/Derp]
By the way, about your line, “If I don’t enjoy writing them, my readers must not enjoy writing them.” I think is totally wrong.. I’ve met a lot of really nice people here, and I always felt like your Hetalia posts weren’t JUST you talking about episode quality, it was a hub, for everyone who enjoyed the show to pop up with news and links to things.. By the way, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to do a second version of the Character song post, because the first one was horribly mangled, and because I never got to do Russia and China’s. While I’m at it, I’ll throw in the MKC’s and the HFP’s.
actually, that’s an excellent idea.
im surprised an english dub actually committed the usual heresy and changed lots of things but *GASP* it’s just as awesome as the original.
props to the writers.
Well I’d have to wait for the dub to come over the water first…
*is still waiting for some sign of Eden of the East. Or even Baccano*
You mean english dubbed Baccano?
HOW DARE YOU :I I’M GOING TO STOP READING YOUR BLOG NOW EVEN THOUGH I STAY HERE FOR OTHER THINGS BESIDES HETALIA [/rage]
Funny.. I’d always expect Hetalia to always be there.. Guess it’s one of those cases of “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” .. Though, I really do think you should do the Su-san episodes as a finally bang.
Infact, I order you to blog them. *Geass*
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cart-Driver/132904553417669?v=page_getting_started#!/pages/The-Cart-Driver/132904553417669?v=wall
Here, I even made you a gift, so PLEEEEASE Blog the Su-San episodes D: .. I’ll watch East of Eden if you blog Su-San episodes :I And I’ll have you know, I’m supposed to be watching AIR..
The geass has already been used on me~
Sorry, my mind’s already been made up. I’m not the kind of person to raegquit then regret it later. I thoroughly thinnk through every blogging project of mine.
Sorry
You make me feel sad
It was a wonderful run while it lasted, and while I shall miss it it doesn’t mean I’ll stop reading your blog. (Yes, you haven’t gotten rid of me yet.)
I love your posts and I’m happy you blogged Hetalia so that I stumbled upon your blog. I look forward to reading about anything and everything even though I’m not watching any of the shows you’re currently blogging.
Yay, people aren’t leaving because of lack of Hetalia~!
Well, at least not yet. But in two months time I can forsee a bunch of people just stopping reading. Which is sad
But every new series brings new readers. In 5 years time you lot shall be known as the Hetalia generation
(although Hetalia will probably still be airing)
Haha no way I’ll stop reading. I love your posts too much.
I’ll attempt to comment in two months to show you I’m still here. –w–
Ah well, all good things/blogs of hit and miss shows must come to an end. Good job with sticking with the series so far =)
I was getting tired of the show myself and missed around two months’ worth of episodes, but I think the English dub has just revitalized by love for the series.
You just keep pulling me back in, Hetalia DX.
Why does everyone have this same exact avatar of Nino? XD
Nino spread some viruses
Nino is there because I was bored of that faceless man. I probably won’t keep that Nino pic though. Something a bit simpler maybe for non-gravatar folks
WHUT YOU STOP IT?! why dood… i think hetalia is a good series…
but still good job for you after blogging this series for such a long time, you did a great job!! i still following your posts~ (actually i always wanting your hetalia post)
I thought Hetalia was a good series but it’s charm has worn off. The 52 episodes was all it really needed IMO. But eh, why stop when it earns them so much money
Glad you enjoyed the posts
too bad you stop it
(your hetalia post always shake my stomach) XDD
Well it’s been a good run with your episodics, and I don’t blame you for leaving it here when it’s an indefinitely running series (and has been somewhat meh in recent episodes.) Thanks for covering it up to this point, never shall we see it again…unless they make a genderswapped edition amirtie? :3
If they made a genderswapped episode people would just call it moecrap
Hetalia is the main thing I watch, along with infrequent drop ins onf Kuroshitsuji and DGM –sigh–
I’ll still be following your blog though, and I do agree that Hetalia was dragging slightly this season although it’s sad that you won’t be blogging Su-san and Finland…
Good luck with the other projects you’ve planned, and may The Cartdriver live a long and prosperous life!
DGM.…I can’t work out what that is.…
But anywho, yay for people still reading the blog even if it is Hetalia-less~!
… D.Gray-Man?
lol, just in time for 4th season announcement.
It’s as though I had inside information…
(btw I didn’t. But lol great timing me!)
Ah well, lurker reader here. It a shame, but you were probably one of the longest folks blogging this series that I am aware of. It was fun while it lasted. I’ll keep poking around though, =P.
Tad ironic you make this announcement as the Fourth Season is Greenlit. Or maybe ironic isn’t the correct word I’m looking for.
Heh, see you around.
People don’t blog shows for 18 months that often. A lot of blogs don’t even last that long. Kinda wish I’d seen it through to the end, but lol 4th season throws that out of the window
See you around too~
It’s a shame but its great that you’ve held on so long. I’ve been a lurker reader since the start and only commented about 3 times but your blogs always put a refreshing view on not just Hetalia but your other series as well.
But yea I’m agreeing with everybody else that the series is dragging a bit currently, especially with the random order of segments and gags.
“But there’s no sign of Hetalia ending anytime soon and chances are it’s going to continue for several years left.“
Lol at greenlit season 4.
Random thought but the dub is pissing off a bunch of people in the actual Livejournal community because it is too offensive for them.
I recognise your name (I think I kept mixing you up with Siri) but yay for refreshing outlooks~!
People will get annoyed at anything they can get annoyed at, especially if it tries to do something different. Also lol at people getting offended at something Hetalia does. Teh irony is killing me…
I rather think it’s funny…
I just realized, you dropped before the two Christmas episodes 8D
Christmas in August again? Oh Hetalia…
You know, you should keep watching.. and if you ever see an episode that really WOWS you, you should do a review. ;3;
D: I am saddened by this. I really am.
And just when the 4th season got greenlit too. Ohohoho~
But, eh, it’s been fun following your Hetalia posts.
(Also, the dub is freakin’ awesome.)
Late, but I had fun reading these posts. :u
(TBH I’m surprised you didn’t do so earlier.)
/no good with these type of things
It’s been fun, Scamp, and this site will always be in my bookmarks. XD
Thank you!
A lot of people are dropping it right now. I was wondering how long you’d hang in there.
I loved it way back when, but I am so sick of what’s it become now. *sigh*
/sadface of sad
Even though i’m not a regular commentator, I’m still a regular reader. I really like your reviews of the episodes, and it’ll be sad to see you stop. However, it’s your choice.
It’s kind of feels like Hetalia’s going down that spiraling freefall of post-peak popularity. This also makes me sad, as I still love it to pieces. I honestly haven’t found another anime yet that has made me want to learn more about the world.
I thank you greatly for staying with us for so long. Your blogs really made my day more than once. To stop seeing your reviews is gonna take some getting used to.. although I don’t think i’ll ever manage to get rid of the side thought of “What would Scamp think of this?” whenever I watch an episode.
–pokes– Did you know Hetalia is on hiatus? No? Yeah? Perhaps?
You could totally catch up on it now if you want.
Yeah, you could.